Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad!
"Here Oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One!"
As we wrestled with Deuteronomy 6 last week I was stuck by the statement "the Lord is One!"
As I began to unpack this concept several things stuck me. Here are a few "Thoughts To Ponder":
1. God is unlike anything or anyone else.
2. He is separate and unique from all the "gods" Israel had seen and known.
3. If there is only "One" then all other "gods" are not... well... God.
4. If He is the only God, the One, then it is to our benefit to know Him.
I've been reading through the Odyssey recently and I find myself, like most, feeling sad for Odysseus as he is tormented at the whims of a host of gods and goddesses in his quest for home. Some are angry with him, some feel sorry for him, and many are indifferent towards his plight. In short Odysseus is in a constant state of disarray as he tries his best to discern which deity to appease for each situation he finds himself in.
As I have explored the creation accounts in other cultures and their interactions with the "deities" I am consistently amazed at how unusual the God of the Bible is. He doesn't use death and destruction to create, He simply speaks it into existence, He is concerned for His creation, He is willing to suffer for them, He doesn't simply demand obedience He desires relationship and love, He is, according to Deuteronomy 6:24, looking out "for our good always", He is "One" of a kind.
The more revelations I discover as we make our way through the Old Testament the more surprised I am at my own misunderstandings and misrepresentations of the good and gracious God I find represented throughout the Scriptures.
Sooo...May you come to comprehend that our God stands alone in all of human history and that His intent is always for your good. May your life be centered in Christ when you sit in your house, when you move on the road, when lie down at night and when you rise up in the day and may you hear and know that the Lord our God, the Lord is One. (Deut. 6:4-7)
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Check Your Rear View Mirrors - August 16
Attachment; what a funny thing.
When I was about 10 years old I remember playing in the field next to the old KBBI radio station with my brothers. (Off of Main St.) We were shooting an old bow we had found at the dump with an arrow we had purchased. It was a long bow and man did it shoot far! My brother let loose an arcing shot across the grass and I went running to retrieve it. As I was running I remember a glint of light catching my eye on the ground. I stopped and turned around and found there in the grass a shiny Swiss Army knife. But not just any Swiss Army Knife, a Giant Red Swiss Army knife with 28 different blade attachments. TWENTY EIGHT!!! I know because I counted them many times.
Later that summer my family moved overseas and the only item I remember bringing with me was my incredible Swiss Army knife. There was however a slight problem I was encountering, I tended to wield my blades with a little carelessness. From gashing pillows to waving it at my brothers, my knife was proving to be a weapon beyond my maturity to wield.
My father in his great wisdom perceiving this problem had an idea. Rather than taking my knife, he asked me if I would consider giving my knife to Lucio. Lucio was a christian man from the mountains who worked with missionaries to help bring the gospel to his native village. Lucio was also very poor.
Of course I would give it to him. I knew it was the right thing to do. About a week later Lucio was at our house. I sat in my room rolling my Red 28 blade Swiss Army through my hand, looking it over one last time. I got up from my room walked out to where Lucio was and said "Do you want my knife?" Lucio said no, but I insisted and said "You can have it." He didn't immediately extend his hand so I set it down next to him and walked back to my room. Once in my room, I laid down and cried. I felt sick.
Attachment; what a funny thing.
In memory of my Swiss Army Knife, I pray my attachment to Jesus grows to such depth.
Aaron
When I was about 10 years old I remember playing in the field next to the old KBBI radio station with my brothers. (Off of Main St.) We were shooting an old bow we had found at the dump with an arrow we had purchased. It was a long bow and man did it shoot far! My brother let loose an arcing shot across the grass and I went running to retrieve it. As I was running I remember a glint of light catching my eye on the ground. I stopped and turned around and found there in the grass a shiny Swiss Army knife. But not just any Swiss Army Knife, a Giant Red Swiss Army knife with 28 different blade attachments. TWENTY EIGHT!!! I know because I counted them many times.
Later that summer my family moved overseas and the only item I remember bringing with me was my incredible Swiss Army knife. There was however a slight problem I was encountering, I tended to wield my blades with a little carelessness. From gashing pillows to waving it at my brothers, my knife was proving to be a weapon beyond my maturity to wield.
My father in his great wisdom perceiving this problem had an idea. Rather than taking my knife, he asked me if I would consider giving my knife to Lucio. Lucio was a christian man from the mountains who worked with missionaries to help bring the gospel to his native village. Lucio was also very poor.
Of course I would give it to him. I knew it was the right thing to do. About a week later Lucio was at our house. I sat in my room rolling my Red 28 blade Swiss Army through my hand, looking it over one last time. I got up from my room walked out to where Lucio was and said "Do you want my knife?" Lucio said no, but I insisted and said "You can have it." He didn't immediately extend his hand so I set it down next to him and walked back to my room. Once in my room, I laid down and cried. I felt sick.
Attachment; what a funny thing.
In memory of my Swiss Army Knife, I pray my attachment to Jesus grows to such depth.
Aaron
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